Seasonal Watering Plan 2013-14 released

Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) released its third Seasonal Watering Plan today, providing the blueprint for Victoria's environmental watering program in 2013-14.

Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) released its third Seasonal Watering Plan today, providing the blueprint for Victoria's environmental watering program in 2013-14.

The Seasonal Watering Plan 2013-14 sets the scope for where, when, how and why environmental water will be used across Victoria's rivers, wetlands and floodplains.

The plan considers how to coordinate delivery of water from our Water Holdings with environmental water managed by others, including partners in the Living Murray program and Commonwealth Environmental Water. The plan includes the Victorian annual environmental watering priorities under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and has been used to inform the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office's annual water use options within Victoria.

Geoff Hocking, VEWH Acting Chairperson, said the plan includes environmental watering programs for 17 systems across Victoria. "The seasonal watering plan takes in the Snowy, Latrobe, Thomson, Macalister, Yarra, Tarago, Werribee, Barwon, Moorabool, Glenelg, Wimmera, Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe, and Loddon systems and the Wimmera-Mallee wetlands and northern Victorian wetlands and floodplains."

"For each system, a range of possible seasonal conditions, from very dry to very wet, have been considered which allows us to manage to actual conditions as the year unfolds," Mr Hocking said.

In 2012-13, Victoria's rivers, wetlands and floodplains faced average to wet conditions, with many systems experiencing their second or third consecutive year of natural flooding. This brought challenges for regional communities, but also provided much-needed recovery of plant and animal populations following the severe drought experienced since 1997.

"Environmental watering in 2013-14 will largely focus on building on this environmental recovery and further enhancing the priority environmental values of Victoria's rivers, wetlands and floodplains," Mr Hocking said.

In addition, the plan considers the use of carryover and trade. These opportunities will be assessed throughout the season and undertaken only where they optimise environmental outcomes.

The plan has been developed with catchment management authorities and Melbourne Water in consultation with partner agencies and local communities. Environmental water releases will not be made where there is a likelihood of flooding private land or property, except in circumstances where prior consent is in place with the landholders involved.

The Seasonal Watering Plan will be available for download from the VEWH website (www.vewh.vic.gov.au) or by contacting the VEWH on (03) 9637 8951.

The VEWH manages Victoria's environmental Water Holdings, in cooperation with partners, to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains.